Benjamin M Martin, Review: Windows XP Remote Desktop with Cisco VPN Client
TechnoLawyer member Edward F. Harney, Jr. asks:
"I am somewhat baffled at why folks would want to use GoToMyPC.com, especially in a small firm setting. We used PCAnywhere for years but switched to the Remote Desktop Connection application that comes free with Windows XP. It is incredibly quick and can be used on any machine that has XP. You just type in your static IP address and it is like you are sitting at your desk almost. Graphics take a bit of time to transmit but everything else is virtually seamless. With respect to GoToMyPC.com, is there something I am missing here? Is there a reason to use GoToMyPC.com instead of RDP with XP?"
As a newly-hired IT Manager here, we just setup new servers to replace the much, much antiquated old ones. Thus, the attorneys are now able to remote desktop from home and access their files, etc.
I've suggested using Remote Desktop built into Windows XP because it is very easy to use since all you need to know is the IP address or the computer name. In order to use the computer name, you must establish a VPN connection to your server to provide a secure connection and then you launch Remote Desktop and type in your computer name and, assuming it is turned on, it's as if you're sitting right in front of it.
We use the Cisco VPN Client that we received with our new Cisco PIX firewall.
The point though, is be sure to make a VPN connection to your server before you remote into a workstation since you're dealing with very important data and you don't need anyone "sniffing" it out of the connection.
Hope this helps,
Benjamin M Martin
IT Manager
Bassett Law Firm LLP
Fayetteville, AR
[Publisher's Note: Download Windows XP Remote Desktop. — Sara Skiff]
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